I've read this book once and that once was quite enough

[Randy M.]

The Belgariad. On recommendations from two friends, I found our tastes were significantly different. Bland, bland, bland.

A Separate Peace by John Knowles. Read this when I was too young for it, I think, and it depressed me utterly. Only required reading that nauseated me to think I had to keep reading.

The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy. Serviceable thriller with cardboard characters and personable machinery.


Hmmmm ... That's all I'm coming up with off the top of my head.


Randy M.

 

[the_philmarillion]

The Elder Gods by David and Leigh Eddings. Bland, paint by numbers fantasy with very uninteresting characters. It was the first of a series of four. Needless to say, I didn't read any of the others. It is also my only experience of Eddings. Based on the comments in this thread, I haven't missed out on much.

 

[Pyan]

I actually got half way through the Belgariad, but gave up after a three-page description of a party of travellers setting up camp for the night at the end of one chapter, only for the next chapter to start "Three days later..."
(It was a long time ago, so don't quote me on this, but I'm pretty sure it was an Eddings book...)

 

[Randy M.]

I read all 5 of the Belgariad trilogy -- er -- series because of friend's recommendations and an urge to find what they thought was good in it. Or possibly I was a bit masochistic at the time.

 

[Danny McG]

I would think any book that had to be read out in the classroom by kids in turn.
This could go on for several weeks listening to the dull monotones, mispronunciation and long pauses while they blinked in confusion at any word longer than three syllables.

Having read ahead and finished whatever story I was several times punished for not paying attention.
Usually when I was called to read while staring out of the window and then frantically trying to find my place.

My protestations I knew what happened were always in vain,
"Don't push your luck, Mr McGuinness, nobody can read that quickly"

"But Sir, I finished it three weeks ago and since then I've read 8 much more difficult books from the library"...that never went down well with the fossil!

 

[Toby Frost]

The Naked Lunch by William Burroughs, which is a hideous mixture of drug abuse, alien monsters, hardcore gay sex and spy novel - in literally the wrong order.

The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy. I can't call this a bad book, but it seems to work to such an alien and depressing outlook that I really don't want to deal with it again.

 

[Hugh]

The Naked Lunch by William Burroughs, which is a hideous mixture of drug abuse, alien monsters, hardcore gay sex and spy novel - in literally the wrong order.

I hardly read any of it. My admiration for anyone who makes it through. I've read extensively about Burroughs and find him a very interesting character, but I've been able to read very few of his books.

 

[Toby Frost]

It's the closest thing I've ever seen to those books in H.P. Lovecraft stories that turn people mad from reading them. I honestly think I gained nothing from it except confusion and a vague sense of horror.

 

[Hugh]

It's the closest thing I've ever seen to those books in H.P. Lovecraft stories that turn people mad from reading them. I honestly think I gained nothing from it except confusion and a vague sense of horror.

And to think WSB thought he was being hilarious!

 

[BigBadBob141]

Got about a quarter or a third of the way through one of the Gor books by John Norman, before I literally tossed it in the bin, it was a truly misogynistic piece of c**p!!!!!

 

[Vince W]

Got about a quarter or a third of the way through one of the Gor books by John Norman, before I literally tossed it in the bin, it was a truly misogynistic piece of c**p!!!!!

Best place for them.

 

[Narkalui]

I read a Weiss and Hickman book once. I really wish I hadn't. The same goes for The Fifth Sorceress by Robert Newcomb. That was rubbish.

 

[Danny McG]

Got about a quarter or a third of the way through one of the Gor books by John Norman, before I literally tossed it in the bin, it was a truly misogynistic piece of c**p!!!!!

I read a few of them years ago, I think my local librarian liked them because he always got the latest ones in.
It was, at the time, read them or don't read anything genre at all

 

[BAYLOR]

Got about a quarter or a third of the way through one of the Gor books by John Norman, before I literally tossed it in the bin, it was a truly misogynistic piece of c**p!!!!!

I managed to get thought Tarnsman of Gor, It was horrendous. I never picked up another book by him again.

 

[BAYLOR]

The Naked Lunch by William Burroughs, which is a hideous mixture of drug abuse, alien monsters, hardcore gay sex and spy novel - in literally the wrong order.

The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy. I can't call this a bad book, but it seems to work to such an alien and depressing outlook that I really don't want to deal with it again.

I got about 50 pages into Naked Lunch and then I put it aside. This book is a complete waste of time and paper.

The Mayor of Casterbridge , a book full of characters , none of whom I could stand. It's the only Thomas Hardy novel ive ever read.

 

[Toby Frost]

The thing is, I could quite happily read a good science fiction novel about a paranoid gay drug user who meets sinister aliens (that's not far off some PK Dick). The supernatural elements could be a good way of talking about experiences that most people haven't had. But the writing was weird and the book was literally in the wrong order. I think The Naked Lunch is the equivalent of those modern jazz pieces that are allegedly brilliant but just sound like chaos.

 

[Danny McG]

those modern jazz pieces that are allegedly brilliant but just sound like chaos.

All jazz!

 

[Celtic_Bardbarian]

I've read through all of the currently released A Song of Ice and Fire books and I just... can't do it again. They were interesting and the intrigue was really impressive, but I really can't see myself enjoying them a second time.

 

[Parson]

Like @dannymcg Out of the Dark by David Weber --- And you all know how much I think of most of his work. ---- another: Pushing Ice by Alastair Reynolds ..... Hated it more and more as the story went on but loved the concept so forged on.

 

[BAYLOR]

Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe I could stand Moll nor any other characters in this wretched excuse for a book. How this abysmal book became a literally classic is beyond me.